Majority of Orlando Residents Want Increased Police Presence, Report Shows

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of Orlando residents want increased police patrols in their neighborhoods, according to a recent survey.  

The survey, released by local residential and commercial security company, Crime Prevention Security Systems, collected data from 216 participants regarding residents' experiences with and perceptions of crime in the Orlando area.

When asked about the frequency of police patrols, 41 percent of survey respondents said extra police visibility would be helpful in their neighborhoods, while 12 percent indicated, "we definitely need more police presence."

Orlando Police Department currently employs over 700 sworn officers, roughly one officer for every 350 Orlando residents. With the high number of tourists, however, that ratio drops to an average of just one officer for every 550 people in the city. By comparison, New York City averages one uniformed police officer for every 250 people.

The survey goes on to reveal nearly one-third of Orlando residents have been victims of crime within the city, with property crimes most common. In 2012, an average 53 crimes were committed per day, of which nearly 87 percent were property crimes such as vandalism, theft and burglary.

Jorgia McAfee, Crime Prevention Security Systems vice president of development, said Orlando police do the best they can with available resources, but residents also have a role to play.

"When police resources are spread thin, it's that much more important for residents to take their own security precautions," McAfee said. "Personal and home safety have to be priorities for all of us."   

To guard against burglary and home invasion, security experts recommend keeping doors and windows locked at all times, adding motion-activated lighting to a home's exterior and installing a monitored home alarm system.

Full crime survey results can be found here.

About Crime Prevention Security Systems

Crime Prevention Security Systems is a family-owned business that sells, installs and monitors residential and commercial burglar and fire alarm systems in Orlando, Ocala and Gainesville, Florida. The company launched in 1975 and expanded into the Orlando market in 2012. Their mission is, "to improve quality of life by keeping people safe and making their homes and businesses more enjoyable."

MEDIA CONTACT Jorgia McAfee [email protected] 800-949-1799

SOURCE Crime Prevention Security Systems